Local Democrats hold major fundraising lead over Republican opponents, public records show

By DANIEL J. MUNOZ AND MALIK A. LYONS

November 5, 2017 at 12:26 PM

Content Options

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Elections are just a few days away, and Democrats are holding a major fundraising advantage over their Republican opponents, according to campaign finance reports from the state Election Law Enforcement Commission website.

The recent wave of fundraising numbers and data came on October 27, 11 days before the November 7 election and as such, those reports are called the 11-day pre-election report.

Any money that a campaign raises between that 11 day mark and election day has to register the funds with the state within 48 hours.

All three representative seats for the State Legislature: two Assembly members and one State Senator are up for grabs.

New Brunswick is part of the 17th Legislative District, along with Piscataway, North Brunswick, Milltown and Somerset County’s Franklin Township.

The district makes consists of roughly 185,000 voting age residents and around 129,000 registered voters, 43 percent of whom are Democrats.

Bob Smith, the Democrat incumbent seeking to hold onto his seat in the State Senate, has raised $603,706 as of October 27, according to public records.

By contrast, Smith’s Republican challenger, Daryl Kipnis, brought in $4,841 as of October 27.

Joseph V. Egan, one of two Democratic incumbents running for the General Assembly, brought in $436,766 as of October 27, according to public records. His running mate, Joe Danielson, brought in $89,481 as of that same date.

One of the challengers for the state assembly, Republican Robert A. Quinn, garnered $12,703 as of October 27, while his running mate, Nadine Wilkins, raised $350 as of that same date.

Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Four people will be running for two three-year freeholder's seats and two of those candidates live in Franklin Township. Township resident, incumbent Brian D. Levine (R), will be running with Brian Gallagher (R). Levine and Gallagher will face Franklin Township At-Large Councilwoman and local resident Shanel Robinson (D) who is running with Alex Avellan (D).

In contrast the freeholder race unlike the district 17 race, the Republicans have an edge in the funding.

As of October 20, Robinson had raised $9,724 and Avellan had raised $8,500 as of November 2. As of October 27, Levine had raised $61,592 and Gallagher had $66,116 during the same date.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ - In an effort to meet the needs of our community’s demand for blood, Franklin Municipal Township is sponsoring a blood drive on Friday, February 23rd at Council Chambers - 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset from 9 am to 3 pm.

PEAPACK, NJ - Somerset Native Rasheeda Mahali will be one of five playwrights featured during the New Jersey Theater Festival, at the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny campus, March 3, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

BEDMINSTER, NJ – The Somerset County Business Partnership and The Center for Contemporary Art will host a “Business Builders Breakfast” and workshop focused on sexual harassment in the workplace on Tuesday, Feb. 27 beginning at 8 a.m. at The Center for Contemporary Art, 2020 Burnt Mills Road.

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Borough’s controversial parking fees are set to undergo another revision, with hourly parking reduced from 75 to 50 cents in municipal lots 1,2,4 and 6, according to a merchant-driven plan endorsed by Mayor Ellen Brain.

The $1 hourly rate for parking on Main Street will remain the same, according to the mayor.

SOMERVILLE, NJ - Jerome Luiz Gonzalez, a devoted father, artist, author and the heart and soul of the burgeoning downtown arts community, died early Saturday morning, Feb. 17 pursuing another one of his passions, competing in an endurance race in North Carolina.

A 1992 graduate of Somerville High School and a resident of Bridgewater, he was 44.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ - Over the weekend the Franklin Township Police Department (FTPD) was contacted by school officials from Franklin Middle School (FMS), reporting a video that was found on social media, according to police.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John A. Ravally issued a statement to parents saying two FMS students exercised "poor judgment" while editing a video ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - At a meeting Thursday night, the East Brunswick board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to engage the East Brunswick Police department to place armed police officers at each school building in the district throughout the entire school day.

In a report released by superintendent Victor Valeski yesterday, township officials asserted that the move ...

BERNARDS TWP., NJ - Bernards Township Police announced late Thursday afternoon that the body of a 19-year-old township resident, Lydia Comtois, had been located in a wooded area of Liberty Corner following a search by personnel and volunteers from numerous public safety organizations.

A preliminary investigation indicated the young woman's death was not deemed to ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - At a meeting Thursday night, the East Brunswick board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to engage the East Brunswick Police department to place armed police officers at each school building in the district throughout the entire school day.

In a report released by superintendent Victor Valeski yesterday, township officials asserted that the move ...

BERNARDS TWP., NJ - Bernards Township Police announced late Thursday afternoon that the body of a 19-year-old township resident, Lydia Comtois, had been located in a wooded area of Liberty Corner following a search by personnel and volunteers from numerous public safety organizations.

A preliminary investigation indicated the young woman's death was not deemed to ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Borough’s controversial parking fees are set to undergo another revision, with hourly parking reduced from 75 to 50 cents in municipal lots 1,2,4 and 6, according to a merchant-driven plan endorsed by Mayor Ellen Brain.

The $1 hourly rate for parking on Main Street will remain the same, according to the mayor.

SOMERVILLE, NJ - Jerome Luiz Gonzalez, a devoted father, artist, author and the heart and soul of the burgeoning downtown arts community, died early Saturday morning, Feb. 17 pursuing another one of his passions, competing in an endurance race in North Carolina.

A 1992 graduate of Somerville High School and a resident of Bridgewater, he was 44.

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Borough’s controversial parking fees are set to undergo another revision, with hourly parking reduced from 75 to 50 cents in municipal lots 1,2,4 and 6, according to a merchant-driven plan endorsed by Mayor Ellen Brain.

The $1 hourly rate for parking on Main Street will remain the same, according to the mayor.

On this week’s episode of AtlantiCast, decade of excellence makes headlines, as Atlantic Health’s place on Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For List leads off the newest episode of AtlantiCast. Also on this week’s show, check out the newest “hybrid” operating room at Morristown Medical Center and find out how Atlantic Health is helping local ...

Breaking Atlantic Health System news on this week’s AtlantiCast! Plus, find out why Morristown Medical Center is one of the best hospitals in the nation when it comes to recovering from joint surgery, see the newest center for fighting brain cancer and an Atlantic Health System red-carpet premiere!